By Kim Ae-ran Together with religious sisters from the local community, I went to the Wake and the funeral Mass offered in loving memory of Elizabeth Ann Kammien who passed away on June 29. I remember her with smiles. From time to time, Ann came to our bookshop with her brother Dan Compton, one of our cooperators.
Dan had to help her walk because she couldn’t get around by herself. Once very active as a physical therapist, she suffered from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease or Motor Neuron Disease) for the past three years. Paying a visit to the Wake, I could feel the warm-hearted atmosphere of her family.
Lots of photos were displayed, and the screen was constantly played in memory of her life. Her wedding album and an article about her generous hospitality toward exchange students were also displayed. All these parts of her life bear witness to my belief that our very existence is to be celebrated.
The urn for her cremated ashes revealed that she enjoyed listening to the birds singing in the trees. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou, 1928-2014).
This quotation written on her little holy card invited me to reflect on her life in kindness and gentleness. How beautiful and touching it is for her bereaved family to appreciate the faithful and friendly accompaniment of their acquaintances! The family expressed: “We are forever grateful.